Elevating and lowering device for blast-furnace bells.



PATBNTBD APR.v 12', 1904.

. W. I. MANN. ELEVATING AND LOWERING'DEVICE POR BLAST/FRNACB BELLS.

PILIOT'ION FILED DBO. 22, 1.902-,

N0 MODEL.,y

ne. atmen.

qihviTnn STATES Patented April 12, 1904.-

ENCE

PATENT ELEVATlNG AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR BLAST-FUWNACE BELLS.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,211, dated April 12,1904.

i Application filed December 22, 1902. Serial No. 136,269. (No medal.)

To (1J/Z whom it may concern.:

Be it known that LWTLLIAM l. MANN, aci tizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in" Elcvatingand Lowering Devices for Blast-Furnace Bells, of which the following isa specification.

rifhis invention relates to certain new and seful improvements inelevating and lowermg devices, and is particularly adapted for.

use in connection with blast-furnaces, and is also adapted forelevatingand lowering objects of any character for which it isapplicable.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved elevating and loweringdevice for use in connection with handling 'blastfurnace bells which isadapted for holding the bell in its normal or closed position forlowering the bell as occasion requires and for automatically returningthe bell to its normal or closed position, at the same time cushioningthe return movement `of the bell.

' The invention further aims to provide an elevating and lowering deviceparticularly adapted forthe bells of blast-furnaces which shall beextremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, eilicient in itsoperation, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

To this end the invention consists of the novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter more specilically described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed'ontin the claims hereunto appended.

ln describing the invention in detail referf' ence is had to theaccompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, wherein 'like reference charactersdenote corresponding parte throughout both views, and in whioh Figure 11is a' sectional side elevation of my improved device as connected tothe'bell of a vblast-furnace, and Fig.`2 is a detail plan view 1` of myimproved device.

l have shown my improved elevating and 'lowering device'as used inconnection with vtheliiell of-a blast-furnace, and, referring to'-theldrawings by reference characters, 1 denotes' the'blast-furnace,and 2 the bell thereof.

ingto a prime mover.

Connected to the apex of the bell, as at 3, is-

thc upper end of a exible elevating and lowering member 4-,-such, forexample, as a cable-and which passes over a sheave 5, supported in anysuitable manner above the top of the furnace.

The reference character 6 denotes a piston provided with a piston-rod 6and which is mounted in an air or hydraulic cylinder 7. As shown, anair-cylinder is employed and is adapted to form a cushion for thepurpose hereinafter referred to. The cylinder 7 at its top is providedwith air-outlets 6", at its bot'- tom with an air-inlet Valve 6, and inthe side thereof near its bottom with a petcock 6d,- forrning an outlet,this latter outlet being smaller than the inlet formed by thecheckvalve6. The piston 6 is also' provided with a piston-rod 8, which extendsthrough the bottonrof the cylinder 7 and is suitably connected at itslower end to the counterweight 9. As shown, the cylinder '7 and counter-Weight 9 are mounted in a. suitable opening formed in the ground orbelow-the groundlevel; but itis obvious that the cylinder 7 andcounterweight 9 can be arranged above the ground and mounted upon asuitable support. The upper end of the piston-rod 6 is connected to thelower end oi' the fiexible rnc-mber 4, as at 6e.

The reference character 10 denotes a rocking drum carrying a liexibleconnecting member 10, which is connected at one end to ,the drum, Vas at10", and at its loweren d to the piston-rod 6, as at 10". The rockingdrum 10 :is loosely mounted upon a sh'aft12 and-.is provided with aclutching-sleeve 13, adapted to engage the clutching-collarM of thedrivepulley 15. fixed on a' driven shaft 12. The pulley 15 is connectedby a belt 16 or a gearl (Not shown.) The clutching-collar 14 is adaptedto be engaged by a shifting-rod 14 for bringingthesaid v collar intoengagement with the clutch-sleeve ALn t rl`lie operation ot' the deviceis as follows:

Movement'.- is imparted to the drum 10 in the owing to the weight of thebell or owing to the combined weightotl the bell and thc charge of' oreor material upon the bell. The bell .2 is i'iutoniatn'ally returned toits normal or closed position by means of releasingthe clutciiing-slceveand collar from'one another,

preferably the brake is employed when returning the bell to itsnormalposition or the reseating of the bell. The brake can be operated in anysuitable manner.

lt is thought that the many advantages of an elevating and loweringdevice constructed in accordanceywith the foregoing description, takenin lconnection' with the accomiamying drawings, can be readilyunderstood. particulai-ly the overcoming of the objection of lowwhichwill disconnect the drum 1() from the l shaft 12 and permit thecounterweiglit 9 to lower. By releasing the brake 17 the piston 6 willlower as wellais the. counterweight 9- that is to say, when the drum hasbeen operated in one direction by the brake 17. The lowering ot' themovement otlthe piston and counterweight 9 can also beretarded by thebrake 1T. It will be evident also that the movcnient of' thecounterweiglit will be retarded owing to the action of the piston (i andthecylinder T, the cylinder 7 forming an air- ,y cushlon which retardsthe movement of the counterweiglit, so thatlthe return of the bell toits closing' position will be in a slow or gradual manner. The cylinder7, as before stated, will be open to the, atmosphere it' air is used.the cylinder 7 is provided with a perforated cover, or other suitableconstruction may be employed, if desired. The bottom ot' the cylinderbelow the piston, as before stated, is provided with a check-valve, sothat air may be drawn in the cylinder on the upstroke oi the piston, butcannot escape through the check-valve on the downstroke of' the piston.

A small petcock, as before stated, is connected to the cylinder near thebottom inthe side, 4 Iso to regulate the outflow ofl the air, so thatthe piston will slowlysettle down and allow the bell to seat, or, inother words, thc lowering movement of' the flexible member will be. in'a cushioned ina-niier. lt'is obvious that the piston will nota-etardthe motion of the counterweig'ht until the air has been wmpressed to alarge extent within the cylinder.

By the example shown the top ot' It obvious that when using' the braketo t the braket-he cminteri'veiglit would .drop suddenly until-near theend of' the stroke, when it would stop and dance on the cushioned air.This would canse trouble or inconvenience. So, therefore, `it isintended to control'tlie speed ol` the drum by means of the brake.

` lmverinstead ofv the rocking drum if'th'e clutch shouldbc'thrown outwithout application ot lhc air-cushion l'oijmed bythe cylinder 7` andpiston 6 forms an additional safety device to y reduce shockV ol`seating the bell, whether lowy ered by llie brake or b vilie primemover, and

would very likely save a breakdown in case ol' l'ailui'e ol brake ordrum connections, and

ering the bells by hand as well as by levers connected to and operatedby air or steam cylinders, and it will furthermore be evidentthatchangcs, variations; and modifications can be resorted to without(.leparting from the spirit of the inventiomand l therefore do not wishto restrict inyselt' to the ile/,tails of construction as hereinbet'oreset forth, but reserve the right te malte such changes, variations, andmodifications as come properly within the scope ot' the protectionprayed.

I-l'aving thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. Adevice for elevatingand lowering blastfurnace bells comprising aflexible member adapted to be connected directly to the bell', a rockingdrum, an air-cylinder, a piston operating' in said cylinder andconnected directly to said flexible member, a counterweight con nectcdto the said piston, a flexible connection between said piston and saiddrum, and operating means for said drum.

2. A device f'or elevating and lowering blastfurnace bells comprising aflexible member adapted to be connected directly to the bell, a rockingdrum, an air-cylinder, a piston operating iii said cylinder andconnected directly to said l'lexible member, a couiiterweight conncctedto the said piston, a flcxible connection IOO.

IOS

der, a piston-rod connected to said piston and.

extending abovi` and below the same, said upper end oi said piston-rodconnected tothe lower end oi said cable, a flexible connectionv betweenthe upper'end of said pistn-rofl and' said drinn, a counterweig'htconnected .to the loweizend oi' said pistonl and moans for oneratingsaid drum.

el.. A device for elevating and lowering blastt`urnace bells comprisinga cable connected `it its upper end to the bell, a rocking drum, anair-cylinder, npiston operating". in .said cylinder, a piston-rodconnected to said piston and extending abovezrnd below thesame, saidlip-- per end ol saidpiston-rml connected to the lower end of saidcable, a llexible connection between the upper end of' said piston-rod'and said drum, a counter-weight connected to the lower end of saidpiston, Ineens for operating' said drum, and means for reterding theInovement of said drum.

5. A device for elevating and lowering blastfurnace bells comprising aflexible member connected directly et its upper end to the bell, a.gravity-returned cushioning` device for the bell connected directly atits upper end to the lower end of said llexible member, a. rocking drum,and a direct flexible connection between said drum and the upper end ofthe cushioning device, said drum when operated adapted to elevate seidflexible connection causing thereby the lowering of the bell and saidcush-- ioning device adapted through intervention of said flexiblemember to return the bell by gravity to its closing position.

6. A device for elevating' and lowering blastfurnace bells comprising aflexible member connected directly at its upper end tothe bell,

a gravity-returned cushioning device lor the bell connected directly etits upper'end to the lower end or' seid flexible member, e rocking drum,a. direct flexible connection between seid drum and the upper end or thecushioning device, said drum when operated adapted to elevate saidflexible connection causing thereby the lowering of the bell and saidcushinningI deviceadapted through intervention of said flexible memberto return the bell by gravity to its closing position, and menne forrctarding the mowmentl of seid rocking drum.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of twoSubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM l.. MANN. Witnesses:

J, L. RITCHEY, J Ames A. CHAMBERS.

